Faculty/School

Faculty of Science

School of Chemistry and Physics

Topic status

We're looking for students to study this topic.

Research centre

Centre for Materials Science

Supervisors

Dr Nathan Boase
Position
Senior Lecturer
Division / Faculty
Faculty of Science

Overview

The personalised treatment of disease though nanomedicine will allow for more effective and safer treatments for patients. Polymer theranostics provide for the simultaneous detection of disease, treatment, and monitoring of therapeutic response. Our research group synthesises new polymeric materials and investigates how they can be used in applications such as:

  • potent antivirals to fight future pandemics
  • the effect of radiation on materials for improved radiotherapy for cancer
  • responsive imaging agents that can report on metabolic processes of disease
  • characterizing the interaction of polymeric materials with cell membranes.

Research engagement

As part of this research topic, you will be tasked with the following:

  • learn and gain experience in controlled chemical techniques to synthesise polymeric materials with defined composition and architecture
  • learn and gain experience in synthetic organic chemistry techniques, used to functionalise polymers
  • have the opportunity to perform advanced analytical techniques and learn how to characterise the structure and properties of these materials.
  • develop data science skills in the analysis of large libraries of chemical data.

Outcomes

This project will lead to new polymeric materials that are able to interact with biological systems to detect and treat disease. The project will develop new understanding of the realtionship between the physical and chemical properties of polymers, and their biological interactions.

Skills and experience

This project will suit students who have a passion and enthusiasm for chemistry. A foundation of at least first year undergraduate level chemistry is required for this project.

Start date

25 November, 2024

End date

21 February, 2025

Location

Gardens Point

Keywords

Contact

Contact the supervisor for more information.